Display control apparatus, display control method, and program

ABSTRACT

A display control apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store image data associated with positional information, a determination unit configured to determine whether information representing a type of satellite used for determining the positional information associated with the image data stored in the storage unit is associated with the image data, and a display control unit configured to control, in accordance with a result of the determination performed by the determination unit, display of information representing a type of satellite used for determining the positional information associated with the image data in a form in which the type of satellite is recognizable.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/046,722 filed on Jul. 26, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/118,057 filed on Aug. 10, 2016, (now U.S.Pat. No. 10,057,496 issued Aug. 21, 2018), which is a National Stageapplication pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 371, of International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2015/000347, filed Jan. 27, 2015. Theseapplications claim the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2014-025734,filed Feb. 13, 2014. The above applications are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display control apparatus capable ofprocessing images associated with positional information.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, digital still cameras and mobile terminalsincorporating a camera which include a positioning unit utilizing asatellite positioning system (a global navigation satellite system(GLASS), for example) have been widely used. Such a device is capable ofrecording information on a photographing position associated with imagedata obtained by photographing. Furthermore, various personal computerapplications utilizing image data associated with positional informationobtained in this way have become popular. For example, PTL 1 discloses atechnique of distinguishing image data having positional informationrecorded in attribute information of the image data from image datawhich does not have positional information to be recorded by displayingicons representing that the positional information is recorded inattribute information of image data to be displayed. However, although aresult of a determination as to whether positional information isrecorded in image data may be obtained in the method in the related art,accuracy of the positional information is not examined.

In general, a plurality of types of positioning methods of positionalinformation have been used. For example, in a case of a digital stillcamera including a receiver which receives electric waves supplied fromthe satellite positioning system, under a condition in which the digitalstill camera may receive a signal from a satellite, positionalinformation obtained by the signal is recorded as attribute informationof image data. Furthermore, in a case of a digital still camera or amobile terminal which includes a wireless LAN, positional informationobtained from a nearest wireless base station may be recorded in imagedata. As another method, arbitrary positional information may bemanually recorded using an operation unit in image data which does notinclude positional information recorded therein. In this case, wrongpositional information may be input due to the manual operation.

Furthermore, when the satellite positioning system is used, sinceelectric waves supplied from satellites are used, accuracy of positionalinformation varies depending on an environment of the receiver andtypes, arrangement, the number of satellites, and the like.

As described above, a plurality of positional information may exist interms of accuracy or reliability, and to examine the positionalinformation, it is insufficient that presence and absence of positionalinformation is simply determined.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[PTL 1]

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-323543

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a display control apparatus including astorage unit configured to store image data associated with positionalinformation, a determination unit configured to determine whetherinformation representing a type of satellite used for determining thepositional information associated with the image data stored in thestorage unit is associated with the image data, and a display controlunit configured to control, in accordance with a result of thedetermination performed by the determination unit, display ofinformation representing a type of satellite used for determining thepositional information associated with the image data in a form in whichthe type of satellite is recognizable.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, the user may easily estimateaccuracy or reliability of information on a photographing position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital still camera accordingto a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state of positioning utilizingsatellites according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image fileaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image fileaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in a display unitof a digital still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating another screen displayed in thedisplay unit of the digital still camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a further screen displayed in thedisplay unit of the digital still camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital stillcamera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the digitalstill camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unitof the digital still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating another screen displayed in thedisplay unit of the digital still camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a further screen displayed in thedisplay unit of the digital still camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unitof the digital still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating another screen displayed in thedisplay unit of the digital still camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating a further screen displayed in thedisplay unit of the digital still camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unitof the digital still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in a display unitof a digital still camera according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital stillcamera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11B is the flowchart illustrating the operation of the digitalstill camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in a display unitof a digital still camera according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating another screen displayed in thedisplay unit of the digital still camera according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in a display unitof a digital still camera according to a fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detailhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples of unitsfor realizing the present invention, and the embodiments may be alteredor modified depending on configurations of apparatuses to which thepresent invention is applied and various conditions. Furthermore, theembodiments may be appropriately combined with one another.

First Embodiment

[Internal Configuration of Digital Still Camera 100]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digitalstill camera 100 which is an example of an image processing apparatus ofa first embodiment. Although a digital still camera is taken as anexample of an image processing apparatus in this embodiment, the imageprocessing apparatus is not limited to the digital still camera. Forexample, an information processing apparatus, such as a cellular phone,a tablet device, and a personal computer, or an image pickup apparatus,such as a cellular phone incorporating a camera, may be employed as theimage processing apparatus.

A controller 101 controls various units included in the digital stillcamera 100 in accordance with input signals or programs described below.Instead of the controller 101, portions of hardware may control theentire apparatus by sharing processes.

An image pickup unit 102 converts subject light which forms an imagethrough a lens included in the image pickup unit 102 into an electricsignal, performs a noise reduction process on the electric signal, andoutputs resultant digital data as image data. The obtained image data isstored in a buffer memory, and thereafter, is subjected to apredetermined calculation performed by the controller 101 and stored ina recording medium 110.

A nonvolatile memory 103 which is an electrically removable andrecordable nonvolatile memory stores the programs and the like describedbelow to be executed by the controller 101.

A work memory 104 is used as a buffer memory which temporarily storesdata on an image captured by the image pickup unit 102, an image displaymemory by a display unit 106, a work space of the controller 101, andthe like.

An operation unit 105 accepts an instruction issued by a user to thedigital still camera 100. The operation unit 105 includes operationmembers, such as a power supply button used by the user to instructpower-on or power-off of a power source of the digital still camera 100,a release switch used to instruct image capturing, and a reproductionbutton used to instruct reproduction of image data. Furthermore, a touchpanel formed in the display unit 106 described below is also included inthe operation unit 105. Note that the release switch includes switchesSW1 and SW2. When the release switch is pressed halfway, the switch SW1is turned on. By this, an instruction for performing image pickuppreparation including an auto-focus (AF) process, an auto-exposure (AE)process, an auto while balance (AWB) process, and a flash pre-firing(EF) process is received. Furthermore, when the release switch is fullypressed, the switch SW2 is turned on. By this, an instruction forperforming image capturing is received.

The display unit 106 performs display of a view-finder image at a timeof image capturing, display of data on a captured image, display ofcharacters used for an interactive operation, and the like. Note that itis not necessarily the case that the display unit 106 is included in thedigital still camera 100. The digital still camera 100 is at leastconnected to the display unit 106 and at least has a function ofcontrolling display of the display unit 106.

A position obtaining unit 108 performs positioning process. In thepositioning process, a signal is received from a satellite andpositional information representing a position of the digital stillcamera 100 is calculated from the received signal. In this embodiment,the positional information is represented by a coordinate of a longitudeand latitude.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which positioning isperformed using a plurality of types of satellites. The positionobtaining unit 108 is capable of performing positioning using aplurality of types of satellites including not only a GPS satellite 201of the U.S. but also a GLONASS satellite 202 of Russia, a QZSS satellite(Michibiki) 203 of Japan, a Compass satellite 204 of China, a Galileansatellite 205 of Europe, and the like. Normally, a plurality ofsatellites are operated for each type, and accordingly, instead of useof a single satellite for each type as illustrated in FIG. 2, aplurality of satellites may be used for each type. Furthermore,depending on an area on the earth, some of the satellites may notperform positioning, and moreover, depending on an environment, such asan urban canyon, some satellites may not be used for positioning.Accordingly, types of satellites and the number of satellites used forpositioning vary depending on a situation. In some cases, only one typeof satellite is allowed to be used. Even in this case, if a plurality ofsatellites are available, positioning may be performed.

For example, it is assumed that, when positioning is performed in a flatland in a good radio wave condition in Japan, positioning is performedusing 13 satellites in total, that is, seven GPS satellites, fiveGLONASS satellites, and one QZSS satellite. Since the number ofsatellites is sufficient, excellent positioning accuracy with an errorof approximately 10 m or less may be obtained. On the other hand, whenpositioning is performed in an urban canyon, only four satellites intotal, that is, three GPS satellites and one GLONASS satellite, may beused. In this case, an error of 100 m or more is generated aspositioning accuracy, and accordingly, an exact location is notspecified. Furthermore, different positioning accuracies of differenttypes of satellites may be obtained since different types of satelliteshave different trajectory accuracies and different time accuracies. Thetypes of satellites and the numbers of satellites are importantinformation for estimation of positioning accuracy.

When performing positioning, the position obtaining unit 108periodically transmits positional information in an NMEA format to thecontroller 101. The positional information includes information on typesof satellites used for the positioning and information on the numbers ofsatellites for individual types. Even when positioning may not beperformed owing to a poor radio wave condition, the positioninginformation is transmitted to the controller 101. In this case,information representing that positioning may not be performed istransmitted.

The controller 101 periodically stores the positioning information inthe work memory 104. If the positioning information has been stored, thepositioning information is updated. Accordingly, the work memory 104stores the latest positional information at all time. The positionalinformation stored as described above is read when image data isgenerated by image capturing performed by the image pickup unit 102, andrecorded in a recording medium as information on an image capturingposition along with the generated image data.

Note that the position obtaining unit 108 may have a function ofobtaining positional information and date-and-time information from anexternal apparatus, such as a base station of mobile phones, in additionto the function of receiving electric waves from satellites andperforming positioning as described above. Alternatively, the positionobtaining unit 108 may have a function of receiving a signal from apublic wireless LAN access point and obtaining positional information inaccordance with the signal. These functions may be individually realizedby apparatuses or modules.

The recording medium 110 may record an image supplied from the imagepickup unit 102. In this embodiment, images of an Exif-jpeg format areused. The recording medium 110 may be detachable from the digital stillcamera 100 or incorporated in the digital still camera 100.Specifically, the digital still camera 100 at least has a unit foraccessing the recording medium 110.

[Configuration of Image File]

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image fileaccording to this embodiment. An image data file 300 includes an imageheader portion 301 which records information on image data and an imagedata portion 303 which is an image data body. The image header portion301 includes a positioning information portion 302 which recordsinformation on a photographing position. Examples of the information ona photographing position include, in addition to a latitude, alongitude, an altitude, a date of positioning, and a time of positioning(a UTC time), types of satellites used for positioning and the numbersof satellites for individual types of satellites.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a data type and a data configurationof the positioning information portion 302. First, a flag representingwhether positioning data is valid is stored in a leading portion of datain the positioning information portion 302. When the positioning data isinvalid, values of subsequent data do not have validity. When thepositioning data is valid, the values of the subsequent data havevalidity.

Immediately after the valid/invalid flag, azimuth-direction data isstored. The azimuth-direction data has two bytes and represents anazimuth-direction of photographing by a number in a range from 0 degreeto 359 degrees at an interval of one degree while the north is set as 0degree and the east is set as 90 degrees. Subsequently, altitude data of4 bytes is stored. The altitude data may have a negative value.Thereafter, latitude data and longitude data are stored. The latitudedata of 8 bytes and the longitude data of 8 bytes are represented by ageodetic system, such as WGS84. Furthermore, data on positioning date of4 bytes and data on a UTC time of 4 bytes are stored. Subsequently,positioning method information representing a method for obtaining theinformation described above is stored. It is not necessarily the casethat all the devices have a function of describing the positioningmethod information and some devices only describe point information inimage data.

The positioning method information of this embodiment may have one ofthe following four types of values. First positioning method informationcorresponds to CELLID. CELLID is a positioning method using informationon base stations of cellular phones. A current position is obtained froma cellular-phone base station by the following methods. For example, aposition of a base station communicated with a cellular phone is set asa current position of the cellular phone, or a current position isestimated from a difference among arrival times of electric wavessupplied from a plurality of base stations and positions where the basestations are installed.

Second positioning method information corresponds to WLAN. Thispositioning method utilizes a wireless LAN. A current position isobtained from the wireless LAN as follows. Electric waves are receivedfrom at least one wireless LAN access point, and a current position isestimated from intensity of the electric waves and a position where theaccess point is installed.

Third positioning method information corresponds to GPS. In this method,a current position of the apparatus itself is calculated by receivinginformation from a plurality of satellites as described with referenceto FIG. 2. Although, in this embodiment, a case where a character stringof “GPS” is employed as the positioning method information as arepresentative of methods utilizing satellites is described as anexample, the positioning method information is not limited to this andany information may be used as long as the fact that the method utilizessatellites is recognizable.

Fourth positioning method information corresponds to MANUAL. Thisinformation generally represents that the user manually inputspositional information. Although considerably depending onimplementation, the input of a value is performed when a latitude and alongitude are directly input or when a latitude and a longitude areinput by specifying a specific portion in a map by a user's operation.

In recent years, some cellular phones incorporating a camera performso-called hybrid positioning such that a plurality of positioningmethods are combined with one another so that point information ofhigher accuracy is obtained. In this case, information on all the usedpositioning methods is added to the positioning method information inthis embodiment. Specifically, when the positioning information isdetermined in accordance with information on the GPS and information onan access point of the wireless LAN, positioning method information of“GPS WLAN” is obtained. In this embodiment, the positioning methods aredescribed starting from the positioning method which contributes thedetermination of the positioning information in a larger degree. Thedegree of contribution is calculated in accordance with an amount of anerror in the positioning and predetermined reliability of thepositioning method. The example of “GPS WLAN” represents that a degreeof contribution of the positioning method employing the GPS is largerthan that of the positioning method employing the wireless LAN ofcellular phones. In this embodiment, information on two positioningmethods, that is, first positioning method information and secondpositioning method information, may be described. However, informationon three or more positioning methods may be described.

Furthermore, when information representing that satellites are used isstored in the positioning method information, information on the numbersof satellites for individual types used for the positioning is stored inthe positioning method information. Here, data on the GPS satellites,data on the GLONASS satellites, data on the QZSS satellites, data on theGalilean satellites, and data on the Compass satellites are stored. Eachof the data has 1 byte, and when the data is zero, satellitescorresponding to the data of zero are not used for the positioning.

[Screen Display]

Next, a method for displaying image data according to this embodimentwill be described. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayedin the display unit 106 when the apparatus enters a reproducing mode.

In FIG. 4A, image data Image1 to image data Image12 stored in therecording medium 110 are displayed as a list. These images are generatedby the image pickup unit 102 or obtained from another digital stillcamera or a cellular phone through a connection unit 111. Alternatively,the images may be downloaded from a server or the like on a networkthrough the connection unit 111. Furthermore, thumbnails of the imagedata may be used instead of bodies of the image data.

A display switching button 401 is used to change display of positionalinformation. When the display switching button 401 is selected in astate of FIG. 4A, a screen of FIG. 4B is displayed. The selection isperformed by accepting a touch on a region of the display switchingbutton 401 through a touch panel disposed on the display unit 106, forexample. Alternatively, the selection may be accepted when the displayswitching button 401 enters a selection state when a direction key, adial, or the like included in the operation unit 105 is operated, andthereafter, in this state, a setting button is pressed.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, an icon (hereinafter referred to as a “pinicon”) having a shape of a pin overlaps with the thumbnails of the imagedata which is associated with positional information. Specifically, thepin icon is displayed for an image file having a positioning informationportion. According to the example of this screen, latitude and longitudeinformation is described as positional information in the image dataImage1, Image3, Image4, Image6, Image7, Image8, Image10, and Image11. Inthis way, in the state of FIG. 4B, the image data associated with thepositional information is displayed so as to be distinguished from theimage data which is not associated with the positional information. Itis not necessarily the case that the entire pin icon overlaps with thethumbnails and a portion of the pin icon may overlap with the thumbnailsor the pin icon may be displayed beside the thumbnails of the image dataas long as the image files having the positioning information portionand the image files which do not have the positioning informationportion are distinguished from each other. In this screen, irrespectiveof the positioning method information, the pin icon overlaps with theimage data having the latitude and longitude information. The user mayeasily recognize the image data including the positional informationadded thereto by checking this screen.

When the display switching button 401 is further selected in the stateof FIG. 4B, a screen of FIG. 4C is displayed. As displayed in the screenof FIG. 4C, since different icons for the different positioning methodsare displayed instead of the pin icon, the positioning methods aredistinguishable. For example, an icon (hereinafter referred to as a“satellite icon”) representing satellites overlaps with the image dataImage1, Image4, Image10, and Image11. The icon represents that thepositioning method information of “GPS” is employed, that is, the imagedata has point information obtained using the satellites. Note that, inFIG. 4C, a satellite icon representing the GPS is displayed on the imagedata Image1 and Image10, a satellite icon representing the GLONASS isdisplayed on the image data Image4, and a satellite icon representingMichibiki is displayed on the image data Image11. Here, icons ofsatellites which make the most significant contribution to thepositioning are displayed. As a criterion for determining the mostsignificant contribution, the larger the number of satellites used forthe positioning is, the more significant the contribution is. Note that,although use ranges of service of quasi-zenith satellites, such as theQZSS satellites (Michibiki) and the Compass satellites, are limited, thepossibility of blocking of electric waves is comparatively low in theservice ranges, and accordingly, accuracy is improved when compared withpositioning performed only using the GPS and the GLONASS. Accordingly,when the quasi-zenith satellites are used for positioning, irrespectiveof the number of the satellites, an icon of the quasi-zenith satellitesis displayed.

Furthermore, an icon (hereinafter referred to as a “wireless LAN icon”)representing electric waves overlaps with the image data Image6 andImage8. The icon represents that the positioning method information of“WLAN” is employed, that is, the image data has point informationobtained using the wireless LAN. An icon (hereinafter referred to as a“manual icon”) representing a hand overlaps with the image data Image7.The icon represents that the positioning method information of “MANUAL”is employed, that is, the image data has point information manuallyobtained. A pin icon overlaps with the image data Image3. The pin iconrepresents image data which does not have positioning methodinformation. Note that, in a case of image data having the positioningmethod information of “CELLID”, an icon (hereinafter referred to as a“cell icon”) which is different from the pin icon, the satellite icon,the wireless LAN icon, and the manual icon overlaps with the image data.

As described above, in the screen of FIG. 4C, the icons corresponding tothe positioning methods overlap with the image data. Furthermore, whensatellites are used, types of the used satellites are also displayed. Bythis, the user may easily recognize the methods for measuring thepositioning information of the image data. Note that, when the displayswitching button 401 is selected in the displayed screen of FIG. 4C, thescreen of FIG. 4A is displayed. Specifically, every time the displayswitching button 401 is selected, the three types of display screens arealternately displayed.

[Operation of Digital Still Camera]

Next, display of a list of images in the digital still camera 100 ofthis embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is aflowchart illustrating an operation of the digital still camera 100performed when images are displayed as a list. A process in theflowchart is started when the digital still camera 100 receives aninstruction for entering a reproducing mode.

In step S501, the controller 101 analyzes image files stored in therecording medium 110 and displays thumbnails of the image files in thedisplay unit 106 in a format of a list as illustrated in FIG. 4A. Atthis time, icons associated with positions are not displayed on thethumbnail images in an overlapping manner.

In step S502, the controller 101 determines whether the displayswitching button 401 has been selected. When detecting the selection ofthe display switching button 401, the controller 101 proceeds to stepS503. In step S503, one of the displayed image data files is analyzed sothat it is determined whether the image data file has a positioninginformation portion recorded therein. When it is determined that theimage data file has a positioning information portion described therein,the process proceeds to step S504, and otherwise, the process proceedsto step S505. In step S504, the thumbnail of the image data in which thepin icon overlaps is displayed. This process is not performed on imagedata files which do not have a positioning information portion. Thisprocess is repeatedly performed until it is determined that all thedisplay objects have been subjected to this process in step S505. Afterthe process from step S503 to step S505 is performed, the screen of FIG.4B is obtained.

In step S506, the controller 101 waits until the display switchingbutton 401 is operated. When an operation on the display switchingbutton 401 is detected, the process proceeds to step S507. In step S507,the controller 101 determines whether one of the displayed image datafiles has a positioning information portion recorded therein. When it isdetermined that the image data file has a positioning informationportion recorded therein, the process proceeds to step S508, andotherwise, the process proceeds to step S509.

In step S508, the controller 101 displays an icon corresponding to apositioning method including the positioning information portiondescribed therein such that the icon overlaps with the thumbnail of thecorresponding image file. The display method will be describedhereinafter. This process is not performed on the image files which donot include positioning information recorded therein. This process isrepeatedly performed until it is determined that all the display objectshave been subjected to this process in step S509.

The operation in step S508 of FIG. 5 will be described in detailhereinafter with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 6. Note that thisoperation is performed when a target image file has a positioninginformation portion.

First, in step S601, the controller 101 analyzes the target image fileso as to determine whether the target image file includes a descriptionof a positioning method. When the determination is affirmative, theprocess proceeds to step S602. On the other hand, when the determinationis negative in step S601, the process proceeds to step S613.

In step S602, the controller 101 refers to positioning methodinformation included in header information of the target image file soas to determine whether first positioning information (which isdescribed at the beginning) of image data corresponding to the targetimage file represents “GPS”, that is, whether a positioning method usingsatellites is employed. When the determination is affirmative, theprocess proceeds to step S603.

In step S603, the controller 101 reads the number of satellites used forpositioning and determines whether quasi-zenith satellites are used forthe positioning. In this embodiment, it is determined whether the QZSSsatellites or the Compass satellites are used.

When the determination is affirmative in step S603, the process proceedsto step S604. In step S604, the controller 101 determines one of typesof satellites which has the largest number of satellites used for thepositioning as a type of satellite to be most preferentially displayedamong the quasi-zenith satellites.

On the other hand, when the determination is negative in step S603, theprocess proceeds to step S605. In step S605, the controller 101determines one of the types of satellites which has the largest numberof satellites used for the positioning as a type of satellite to be mostpreferentially displayed.

When the operation in step S604 or step S605 is completed, thecontroller 101 displays an icon representing the determined type ofsatellite on a thumbnail image in an overlapping manner in step S606.

Furthermore, when the controller 101 determines that the positioningmethod is not “GPS” in step S602, the process proceeds to step S607. Instep S607, the controller 101 determines whether the first positioningmethod information of the image data represents “WLAN”, that is, whetherthe first positioning method of the image data uses a wireless LAN. Whenthe determination is affirmative in step S607, the process proceeds tostep S608. In step S608, instead of a pin icon, a wireless icon isdisplayed on the thumbnail of the target image file in an overlappingmanner. On the other hand, when the determination is negative in stepS607, the controller 101 proceeds to step S609.

In step S609, the controller 101 determines whether the firstpositioning method information of the image data represents “MANUAL”,that is, whether point information of the image data is manually input.When the determination is affirmative in step S609, the process proceedsto step S610. In step S610, instead of the pin icon, a manual icon isdisplayed on the thumbnail of the target image file in an overlappingmanner and the process proceeds to step S611. On the other hand, whenthe determination is negative in step S609, the controller 101 proceedsto step S611.

In step S611, the controller 101 determines whether the firstpositioning method information of the target image file represents“CELLID”, that is, whether point information of the image data is inputusing a base station of cellular phones. When the determination isaffirmative in step S611, the process proceeds to step S612. In stepS612, instead of the pin icon, a cell icon is displayed on the thumbnailof the target image file in an overlapping manner. On the other hand,when the determination is negative in step S611, the process proceeds tostep S613.

In step S613, a pin icon is displayed on the thumbnail of the targetimage file in an overlapping manner. Note that, when the determinationis negative in step S611, it may be determined that a positioninginformation portion is recorded but an unrecognized positioning methodis described. In this case, an icon representing the unrecognizedpositioning method may be displayed in an overlapping manner instead ofthe pin icon or overlapping display may not be performed. In this way,the screen illustrated in FIG. 4C may be displayed.

In the foregoing embodiment, every time the display switching button 401is operated, a change from the display form of FIG. 4A, the display formof FIG. 4B, to the display form of FIG. 4C is looped. However, one ofthe displayed forms may be directly selected from a displayed menu anddisplay may be performed in accordance with the selection. That is, thepresent invention is not limited to the example above.

[Icon Operation]

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed when a thumbnail(located on an upper left portion) of a certain image is specified(selected). As a specifying (selecting) method, a method for changing aselection object by operating an up-down-and-right-left key disposed inthe operation unit 105 may be employed or a method for changing aselection object by detecting a touch on a display region of thethumbnail through the touch panel disposed on the display unit 106 maybe employed. Furthermore, a state in which a cursor moved along with anoperation of a pointing device, such as a mouse, is positioned in thethumbnail (or an icon on the thumbnail) may be determined as thespecifying (selecting) state. In any way, when the certain thumbnail(Image1) is specified, detailed information 700 of a positioninginformation portion of the thumbnail is displayed. In the case of FIG.7A, in addition to positional information obtained by signals suppliedfrom satellites, information on the positioning using the satellites,such as types of satellites and the numbers of satellites used for thepositioning, are displayed in the detailed information 700.

Instead of specifying of the thumbnail, a detection of a click operationperformed on a portion of the satellite icon on the thumbnail or apositioning of a pointer, such as a mouse cursor, on the satellite iconmay trigger the display of the detailed information 700. In this case,when a portion other than the satellite icon is clicked, image data ofthe thumbnail may be selected. This operation is similarly performed onthe other icons.

Note that, when a selection of a high level, such as double click of themouse or double tap of the touch panel, is performed on the icon, ascreen of detailed display of metadata of the image may be displayed asillustrated in FIG. 7B, for example. On the other hand, when a region inthe image other than the icon is specified, a screen of only the imageis displayed as illustrated in FIG. 7C. By this, the user may easilydisplay a desired screen. Note that switching between the screenassociated with one image as illustrated in FIG. 7B or FIG. 7C and thescreen displaying a plurality of images as a list as illustrated in FIG.7A may be performed by pressing a button (a so-called “DISP. button”)associated with display included in the operation unit 105, for example.In this case, every time the button associated with the display ispressed, the screens of FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C are alternately switched fromone to another. Note that the switching function using the button may beincorporated along with the switching function using the icon.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed when a designatedthumbnail has the wireless LAN icon. In the example of FIG. 8A, detailedinformation 801 of a positioning information portion of the image dataImage8 is displayed. In the detailed information 801, informationassociated with positioning using the wireless LAN, such as a latitude,a longitude, and an address of an access point of the wireless LAN, isdisplayed.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed when a designatedthumbnail has the manual icon. In the example of FIG. 8B, detailedinformation 802 of a positioning information portion of the image fileImage7 is displayed. In the detailed information 802, in addition to alatitude and a longitude, a time when positional information is assignedto the image data is displayed.

FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed when a designatedthumbnail has the pin icon. In the example of FIG. 8C, detailedinformation 803 of a positioning information portion of the image fileImage3 is displayed. For the pin icon representing that positioningmethod information does not exist, information on a latitude and alongitude is displayed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a screen used to edit the icons. Forexample, the controller 101 displays an edit menu 900 having a pluralityof edit items in response to a predetermined operation, such as anoperation of moving a cursor onto the satellite icon and performingright click of the mouse or an operation of touching a display region ofthe satellite icon for a predetermined period of time or more. In theedit menu 900, three edit items, that is, “copy”, “add”, and “remove”are provided for editing the detailed information of the satellite iconand the positioning method information. When one of the edit items isspecified, the controller 101 executes an edit process in accordancewith the specified edit item. For example, when “copy” is selected,detailed information including point information, the number of GPSsatellites, and positioning reliability and a positioning method whichare recorded in the image data having the satellite icon on which theright click is performed may be copied in temporal storage memory (whichis referred to as a “clip board” in general). When “remove” is selected,the detailed information including the positional information, thenumber of satellites, and positioning reliability and the positioningmethod which are recorded in the image data may be removed, andfurthermore, the icon may be removed from the display screen. In a casewhere “add” is selected, only when “copy” is selected in an edit menu ofan icon of another image data before “add” is selected, detailedinformation and a positioning method of the other image data serving asa copy source are added to the copy destination image data. Note that itis not necessarily the case that all the detailed information is added,and only the positioning method information may be added.

Furthermore, an icon representing a positioning method of the otherimage data serving as the copy source is additionally displayed on thecopy destination image data. The detailed information added to the copydestination image data is recorded in MakerNote which is a tag ofExif2.3. The positioning method added to the copy destination image datais recorded in a first portion of a GPSProcessingMethod tag, and apositioning method originally recorded in the copy destination imagedata before the addition is recorded in a second portion of theGPSProcessingMethod tag. Thereafter, icon display is changed so that anicon representing a positioning method of significant contribution and asmall icon representing a positioning method of insignificantcontribution are displayed as described above.

Although the description above is made taking the satellite icon as anexample, even when right click is performed on the wireless icon, themanual icon, or the pin icon, the same edit menu is displayed.Furthermore, when right click is performed on image data which does notinclude an icon in a state in which information on a certain icon iscopied, only “add” is displayed in the edit menu. Here, when “add” isselected, detailed information including point information andpositioning method information is added to the image data which issubjected to the right click. Note that it is not necessarily the casethat all the detailed information is added, and only the positioningmethod information may be added.

As described above, in this embodiment, by referring to the positioningmethod information described as attribute information of the image data,the icon not only representing whether positioning information of theimage exists but also representing a type of the positioning method isdisplayed on the thumbnail image in an overlapping manner. Since theimage and the icon representing the type of the positioning method aredisplayed in the same screen, the user may easily recognize apositioning method for obtaining point information.

Second Embodiment

In the foregoing embodiment, an icon representing a type of positioninginformation is displayed on a thumbnail in an overlapping manner inaccordance with a first positioning information method described inattribute information of an image file. In a second embodiment, whensecond positioning method information exists, the second positioningmethod information is also displayed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating display of an image list according tothe second embodiment. In FIG. 10, an image file positioned in an upperleft corner has positioning method information representing positioningperformed using two positioning methods, that is, a GPS and a WLAN.Then, an icon having a first size representing a first positioningmethod “GPS” and an icon having a second size representing a secondpositioning method “WLAN” are displayed on a thumbnail such that theicons overlap with the thumbnail. The second size is smaller than thefirst size. The size of the icon of the second positioning method issmall so that a region which hides the thumbnail image is reduced.

When the display screen of FIG. 10 is displayed as an example instead ofFIG. 4C of the first embodiment, an operation of step S508 in FIG. 5executed by a controller 101 is performed in accordance with a flowchartillustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B. Note that, a process from step S1101to step S1113 in the flowchart of FIG. 11A is the same as the processfrom step S601 to step S613 of FIG. 6. Hereinafter, a process in stepS1114 onwards which is a unique operation of this embodiment will bedescribed.

Note that, an icon of a positioning method has been displayed on athumbnail image in an overlapping manner by a process performed by stepS1113.

In step S1114, the controller 101 analyzes a positioning informationportion of a target image file so as to determine whether a secondpositioning method has been recorded. When the determination isaffirmative, the process proceeds to step S1115. On the other hand, whenthe determination is negative in step S1114, the process (a process instep S508) is terminated and the process proceeds to step S509 in theflowchart of FIG. 5.

In step S1115, it is determined whether the second positioning methodinformation corresponds to “GPS”, that is, whether a positioning methodusing satellites is employed. When the determination is affirmative, theprocess proceeds to step S1116.

In step S1116, the controller 101 reads the numbers of satellites usedfor positioning and determines whether quasi-zenith satellites are usedfor the positioning. In this embodiment, it is determined whether theQZSS satellites or the Compass satellites are used.

When the determination is affirmative in step S1116, the processproceeds to step S1117. In step S1117, the controller 101 determines oneof types of satellites which has the largest number of satellites usedfor the positioning as a type of satellite to be most preferentiallydisplayed among the quasi-zenith satellites.

On the other hand, when the determination is negative in step S1116, theprocess proceeds to step S1118. In step S1118, the controller 101determines one of types of satellites which has the largest number ofsatellites used for the positioning as a type of satellite to be mostpreferentially displayed.

After the operation in step S1117 or step S1118 is completed, theprocess proceeds to step S1119. In step S1119, the controller 101displays an icon which represents the determined type of satellite andwhich has a size smaller than the first icon in an overlapping manner ina portion near the icon of the first positioning method which has beendisplayed (in a portion beneath the first con in the example of FIG.10). Then this process is terminated.

Furthermore, when the controller 101 determines that the positioningmethod is not “GPS” in step S1115, the process proceeds to step S1120.In step S1120, the controller 101 determines whether the firstpositioning method information represents “WLAN”, that is, whether thefirst positioning method of the image data uses a wireless LAN. When thedetermination is affirmative in step S1120, the process proceeds to stepS1121. In step S1121, the controller 101 displays a wireless icon whichhas a size smaller than the first icon in an overlapping manner in aportion near the icon of the first positioning method which has beendisplayed. Then this process is terminated. On the other hand, when thedetermination is negative in step S1120, the controller 101 proceeds tostep S1122.

In step S1122, the controller 101 determines whether the firstpositioning method information of the image data represents “MANUAL”,that is, whether point information of the image data is manuallyassigned. When the determination is affirmative in step S1122, theprocess proceeds to step S1123. In step S1123, the controller 101displays a manual icon which has a size smaller than the first icon inan overlapping manner in a portion near the icon of the firstpositioning method which has been displayed. Then this process isterminated. On the other hand, when the determination is negative instep S1122, the controller 101 proceeds to step S1124.

In step S1124, the controller 101 determines whether the firstpositioning method information of the target image file represents“CELLID”, that is, whether point information of the image data isassigned using a base station of cellular phones. When the determinationis affirmative, the process proceeds to step S1125. In step S1125, thecontroller 101 displays a cell icon which has a size smaller than thefirst icon in an overlapping manner in a portion near the icon of thefirst positioning method which has been displayed. Then this process isterminated. On the other hand, when the determination is negative instep S1124, the process is terminated. Note that, when the determinationis negative in step S1124, unrecognizable data (or unrecognizedpositioning information) may be described in the positioning methodinformation. In this case, since the point information has beendescribed, a pin icon is continuously displayed or an icon representingunrecognized positioning information is displayed in an overlappingmanner.

The process of displaying icons corresponding to positioning methods onthumbnail images of image data in an overlapping manner according to thesecond embodiment has been described hereinabove.

Note that, although the display screen of FIG. 4C according to the firstembodiment is replaced by the display screen of FIG. 10 in the secondembodiment, the display screen of FIG. 10 may be displayed after adisplay switching button 401 included in the screen of FIG. 4C isoperated.

Third Embodiment

In the foregoing embodiments, different icons are displayed depending ontypes of positioning methods described in attribute information of imagefiles. However, in a third embodiment, a screen displayed in a state inwhich types of used satellites and the numbers of used satellites arerecognizable when a positioning method using satellites is employed willbe described.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating variation of display formsof satellite icons according to this embodiment. FIG. 12A is a diagramillustrating a display form in which all icons of satellites used forpositioning are displayed. In this case, a type of satellitecorresponding to the largest number of used satellites is displayed by alarge icon. Other types of satellites are displayed by small icons, andsizes of the icons may be changed in accordance with the numbers of usedsatellites, for example. Specifically, the larger the number of usedsatellites is, the larger the icon is. Alternatively, a display order(display positions) may be changed in accordance with the numbers ofused satellites. Specifically, a type having the larger number of usedsatellites is displayed on an upper side. FIG. 12B is a diagramillustrating a display form in which the numbers of satellites used forpositioning are displayed. In this case, a type having the larger numberof used satellites is displayed on an upper side.

The screens of FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B may be sequentially displayed afterthe display switching button 401 is operated in the screen of FIG. 4C,for example, every time the display switching button 401 is operated.Furthermore, the screens of FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B may be displayed whenthe display switching button 401 is specified by a method of a higherlevel, such as double click, double touch, or touch for a predeterminedperiod of time or more performed on the display switching button 401 inthe screen of FIG. 4C, for example. In this case, the screen in FIG. 12Aand the screen in FIG. 12B are switched from one to another every timethe display switching button 401 is specified by a method of a highlevel. When the display switching button 401 is specified by a method ofa low level, the screen in FIG. 4A is displayed again or a screendisplayed before the screen of FIG. 12A or FIG. 12B is entered isdisplayed. Since the screen of FIG. 12A and the screen of FIG. 12B arenot included in a loop of switching between display forms specified by amethod of a low level, the number of operation steps to be performed bya user who does not require detailed information to reach a desireddisplay form may be reduced. Furthermore, for a user who requiresdetailed information, detailed information may be provided by a simpleoperation.

Fourth Embodiment

Hereinafter, an example of display of a map including detailedinformation of an image file and a photographing position according to afourth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 13.

When a user sets a map display mode, map image data including aphotographing position of an image is displayed. Here, an imagedisplayed here is associated with positional information representing arange of the map displayed by default, and is retrieved from a recordingmedium 110 when the display is started. Alternatively, a map in apredetermined range including an image which has been selected in areproducing mode at a center may be displayed, and this state maycorrespond to a display mode which displays a photographing position ofthe image selected in the reproducing mode.

An example of the map display is illustrated in FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, aphotographing position is indicated by a pin icon displayed on the map.Simultaneously, a balloon 1301 is displayed from the displayed pin icon,and the photographing image and image detailed information associatedwith the photographing image are displayed in the balloon 1301. Notethat the balloon 1301 may be displayed in response to a certain user'sinstruction, such as click, double click, touch, double touch, or touchfor a certain period of time or more performed on the pin icon.

As with the second embodiment, in a display portion of the imagedetailed information, information on a photographing position measuredby GNSS satellites is displayed. In this portion, a latitude, alongitude, and an altitude are displayed from a top line, andthereafter, types of satellites used for positioning and the numbers ofsatellites are displayed for individual types. On the lowest line, apositioning date and a positioning time (a UTC time) are displayed.

By this, the user may recognize the types of satellites used for thepositioning and the numbers of satellites for individual types ofsatellites in addition to the information on a photographing position.Since the map information is simultaneously displayed, even when theinformation on a photographing position is shifted from an actualposition, the user may easily remember a location where thephotographing is actually performed. In this case, when the types ofsatellites and the numbers of satellites are obtained, a degree of theshift of the position where the photographing is actually performed maybe easily estimated, which is effective for remembering thephotographing position.

As described above, according to the present invention, an image displayapparatus capable of easily estimating accuracy and reliability ofinformation on a position where photographing is performed may beprovided since the types of satellites and the numbers of satellites forindividual types of satellites are displayed in a visualized format forimage files including positional information.

Other Embodiments

In the foregoing embodiments, any positioning method information may beused when satellites are used for positioning as long as the positioningmethod information represents that satellites are used for thepositioning, and a case where a character string “GPS” is recorded istaken as an example. Furthermore, information representing a type ofsatellite which makes the most significant contribution for positioning,such as “GPS”, “QZS”, or “GLO”, may be recorded. Furthermore, aplurality of types may be recorded as represented by “QZS GPS”, forexample. Moreover, different types of positioning methods may berecorded as represented by “WLAN QZS GPS”, for example. In this case,the positioning methods are described in a descending order of a degreeof contribution to the positioning. In a case of “QZS GPS”, Michibikicontributes to the positioning, and in a case of “WLAN QZS GPS”,information supplied from an access point contributes to thepositioning.

The present invention may be realized when a program of at least onefunction of the foregoing embodiments is supplied to a system or anapparatus through a network or a storage medium and at least oneprocessor included in the system or the apparatus reads and executes theprogram. Furthermore, the present invention may be realized by a circuit(an ASIC, for example) which realizes at least one function.

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A display control apparatus comprising: oneor more processors; and one or more memories storing instructions that,when executed by the one or more processors, cause the display controlapparatus to perform operations comprising: reading positionalinformation; determining a type of satellites used for calculating thepositional information; when the positional information is displayedwith map, in a case where quasi-zenith satellites are included insatellites used for determining the positional information, displayinginformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the quasi-zenith satellites, and in a case where the quasi-zenithsatellites are not included in the satellites used for determining thepositional information, not displaying the information indicating thatthe positional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenithsatellites.
 2. The display control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein when the quasi-zenith satellites are not included in thesatellites used for determining the positional information andsatellites other than the quasi-zenith satellites are included in thesatellites used for determining the positional information, theinformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the quasi-zenith satellites is not displayed but informationindicating that the positional information is obtained by using thesatellites other than the quasi-zenith satellites is displayed.
 3. Thedisplay control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when thequasi-zenith satellites are included in the satellites used fordetermining the positional information and satellites other than thequasi-zenith satellites are included in the satellites used fordetermining the positional information, the information indicating thatthe positional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenithsatellites and information indicating that the positional information isobtained by using the satellites other than the quasi-zenith satellitesare displayed in such a way that the information indicating that thepositional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenith satellitesand the information indicating that the positional information isobtained by using the satellites other than the quasi-zenith satellitesare distinguished from each other.
 4. The display control apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the information indicating that thepositional information is obtained by using the satellites other thanthe quasi-zenith satellites is displayed in such a way that a type ofthe used satellites is distinguishable between a GPS and a GLONASS. 5.The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when thequasi-zenith satellites are included in the satellites used fordetermining the positional information, the information indicating thatthe positional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenithsatellites is displayed together with data on one screen.
 6. The displaycontrol apparatus according to claim 1, wherein displaying or notdisplaying the information indicating that the positional information isobtained by using the quasi-zenith satellites is selectable by a user'smenu operation.
 7. The display control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a calculated position is indicated on a map.
 8. The displaycontrol apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operations performedby the display control apparatus further comprise: receiving dataassociated with positional information from an external apparatus,wherein the received data is stored.
 9. A method for controlling adisplay control apparatus, the method comprising: reading positionalinformation; determining a type of satellites used for calculating thepositional information; when the positional information is displayedwith map, in a case where quasi-zenith satellites are included insatellites used for determining the positional information, displayinginformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the quasi-zenith satellites; and in a case where the quasi-zenithsatellites are not included in the satellites used for determining thepositional information, not displaying the information indicating thatthe positional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenithsatellites.
 10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium whichstores one or more programs which, when executed, cause a computer toperform a process, the process comprising: reading positionalinformation; determining a type of satellites used for calculating thepositional information; and when the positional information is displayedwith map, in a case where quasi-zenith satellites are included insatellites used for determining the positional information, displayinginformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the quasi-zenith satellites; and in a case where the quasi-zenithsatellites are not included in the satellites used for determining thepositional information, not displaying the information indicating thatthe positional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenithsatellites.
 11. A display control apparatus comprising: one or moreprocessors; and one or more memories storing instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the display controlapparatus to perform operations comprising: reading positionalinformation related to image data; determining whether quasi-zenithsatellites are used for calculating the positional information relatedto the image data or not; when the quasi-zenith satellites are used forcalculating the positional information, displaying informationindicating that the positional information is obtained by using thequasi-zenith satellites; and when the quasi-zenith satellites are notused for calculating the positional information, not displaying theinformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the quasi-zenith satellites.
 12. The display control apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein when the quasi-zenith satellites are notused for calculating the positional information and satellites otherthan the quasi-zenith satellites are used for calculating the positionalinformation, the information indicating that the positional informationis obtained by using the quasi-zenith satellites is not displayed butinformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the satellites other than the quasi-zenith satellites isdisplayed.
 13. The display control apparatus according to claim 11,wherein when the quasi-zenith satellites are used for calculating thepositional information and satellites other than the quasi-zenithsatellites are used for calculating the positional information, theinformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the quasi-zenith satellites and information indicating that thepositional information is obtained by using the satellites other thanthe quasi-zenith satellites are displayed in such a way that theinformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the quasi-zenith satellites and the information indicating thatthe positional information is obtained by using the satellites otherthan the quasi-zenith satellites are distinguished from each other. 14.The display control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein theinformation indicating that the positional information is obtained byusing the satellites other than the quasi-zenith satellites is displayedin such a way that a type of the used satellites is distinguishablebetween a GPS and a GLONASS.
 15. The display control apparatus accordingto claim 11, wherein when the quasi-zenith satellites are used forcalculating the positional information, the information indicating thatthe positional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenithsatellites is displayed together with the image data on one screen. 16.The display control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein displayingor not displaying the information indicating that the positionalinformation is obtained by using the quasi-zenith satellites isselectable by a user's menu operation.
 17. The display control apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein a calculated position is indicated on amap.
 18. The display control apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe operations performed by the display control apparatus furthercomprise: receiving the image data associated with positionalinformation from an external apparatus, wherein the received data isstored.
 19. A method for controlling a display control apparatus, themethod comprising: reading positional information related to image data;determining whether quasi-zenith satellites used for calculating thepositional information related to the image data or not; when thequasi-zenith satellites are used for calculating the positionalinformation, displaying information indicating that the positionalinformation is obtained by using the quasi-zenith satellites; and whenthe quasi-zenith satellites are not used for calculating the positionalinformation, not displaying the information indicating that thepositional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenith satellites.20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores oneor more programs which, when executed, cause a computer to perform aprocess, the process comprising: reading positional information relatedto image data; determining whether quasi-zenith satellites used forcalculating the positional information related to the image data or not;when the quasi-zenith satellites are used for calculating the positionalinformation, displaying information indicating that the positionalinformation is obtained by using the quasi-zenith satellites; and whenthe quasi-zenith satellites are not used for calculating the positionalinformation, not displaying the information indicating that thepositional information is obtained by using the quasi-zenith satellites.